History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

920 FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT-BUCKTATL. 1863
fell, shot through the heart. Lieutenant Colonel Niles having been wounded
early in the engagement, the command devolved on Major Hartshorn, when,
finding his regiment unsupported, he fell back to the wall. This position was
held by the First Brigade until three P. M. of the 3d, when Major Hartshorn
was ordered by Colonel M'Candless to deploy a, single company as skirmishers
upon his left flank at right angles to his line, and to advance against the enemy.
While this movement was being executed, the brigade was formed in column
of regiments, closed in mass, the Bucktails in front, and advanced, charging
through the wheat field and into the woods beyond. Here it was discovered
by Colonel M'Candless that the enemy was in large force upon his left flank.
He accordingly halted, and changed direction by that flank, and ordered Major
Hartshorn to charge, -while he followed close with the balance of the brigade.
The movement resulted in a complete success. The Bucktails were soon engaged hand to hand with the enemy, and nearly the entire Fifteenth Georgia
Regiment, with its colors, was captured. The rebels were in a short time driven
from the wood into the open comutry, where the brigade deployed in line, and
a large number of prisoners was again secured. Night coming on, the brigade rested nearly a mile in advance of the position held in the morning. On
the morning of the 4th, the brigade was relieved by a division of regulars, and
the regiment moved to the rear to replenish its ammunition, which was exhausted. Colonel Taylor, a brave and accomplished officer, Lieutenant Robert
Hall and six men, were killed. Lieutenant Colonel Kiles, Captains Hugh:M'Donald, J. D. Yerkes, Neri B. Kinsey and Frank Bell, Lieutenants J. E.-Kratzer, T. J. ioney, J.. Sparr and thirty-one enlisted men were wounded.:
On the morning of the 5th, it having been discovered that the enemy was
in full retreat, the army marched in pursuit. The regiment moved with the
Fifth Corps, by the Emmetsburg road to Middletown, and thence by the Hagerstown road, until, on the 12th, it came up with the enemy strongly posted
in the vicinity of Williamsport. Sharp skirmishing was kept up during the
nights of the 12th and 13th, and on the morning of the 14th, the troops moved
forward to attack at daylight, when it was discovered that the enemy had fled.
In the manoeuvres of the two hostile armies during the remaining months
of 1863, the Bucktails were constantly upon the skirmish line, frequently engaging the enemy, rarely in a position to be secure from attack, and finally at
the close of the campaign, went into winter quarters at Bristoe Station, where
they remained until the close of April, 1864.
The campaign in the Wilderness opened on the 3d of May. The regiment
broke camp on the 29th of April, and reached Culpepper on the 30th, where
their Sharp's rifles were exchanged for Spencer's seven shooters. On the 4th
of May, it crossed the Rapidan and bivouacked that night near the Lacy House,
in close proximity to the ever memorable battle-field. At daylight on the morning of the 5th, the Reserves, with the Bucktails in advance as skirmishers,
moved forward in the direction of Parker's Store. At nine A. M., Major Hartshorn reported to General Crawford that he had come upon the enemy's skirmishers, and that their line extended considerably beyond both his flanks.
Other regiments were at once distributed upon the line, and Colonel M'Candless with the First Brigade moved to his support. These dispositions completed, the Bucktails advanced ad an attacked the enemy's skirmishers, pushing them back to their line of battle, and to a point in full view of Parkers
Store. The enemy was discovered to be in great force, and the skirmish line